The Glory of Gaurishvara

Verse 1 (skanda.7.69.1)

देव्युवाच। गौरीश्वरेति विख्यातं यत्त्वया लिंगमुत्तमम्। कुत्र तिष्ठति तल्लिंगं पूजितं यत्फलं लभेत्

devyuvāca| gaurīśvareti vikhyātaṁ yattvayā liṅgamuttamam| kutra tiṣṭhati talliṅgaṁ pūjitaṁ yatphalaṁ labhet

The Devi said: That supreme Linga renowned as Gaurishvara, which you have spoken of — where does it stand, and what fruit does one obtain by worshipping it?

Verse 2 (skanda.7.69.2)

ईश्वर उवाच। शृणु देवि प्रवक्ष्यामि माहात्म्यं पापनारानम्। गौरीश्वरस्य देवस्य सर्वकामप्रदस्य वै

īśvara uvāca| śṛṇu devi pravakṣyāmi māhātmyaṁ pāpanārānam| gaurīśvarasya devasya sarvakāmapradasya vai

Ishvara said: Listen, O Devi, I shall declare the sin-destroying glory of the god Gaurishvara, the granter of all desires.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.69.3)

इदं तपोवनं देवि ख्यातं गौर्या महाप्रभम्। धनुषां पचपंचाशत्समंतात्परिमंडलम्

idaṁ tapovanaṁ devi khyātaṁ gauryā mahāprabham| dhanuṣāṁ pacapañcāśatsamaṁtātparimaṇḍalam

O Devi, this penance-grove is famed for Gauri's great radiance, extending all around in a circuit of fifty-five bow-lengths.

Verse 4 (skanda.7.69.4)

तत्र मध्ये स्थिता देवी एकपादा तपोन्विता। तस्या उत्तरतो देवि किंचिदीशानसंस्थितम्

tatra madhye sthitā devī ekapādā taponvitā| tasyā uttarato devi kiṁcidīśānasaṁsthitam

In the middle of it stands the Goddess, absorbed in penance upon a single foot; O Devi, a little to her north lies the abode of Ishana.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.69.5)

धनुषां चतुरंते च लिंगं पापभयापहम्। यस्तत्पूजयते भक्त्या लिंगं भक्तियुतो नरः। कृष्णाष्टम्यां विशेषेण स मुक्तः पातकैर्भवेत्

dhanuṣāṁ caturaṁte ca liṅgaṁ pāpabhayāpaham| yastatpūjayate bhaktyā liṅgaṁ bhaktiyuto naraḥ| kṛṣṇāṣṭamyāṁ viśeṣeṇa sa muktaḥ pātakairbhavet

At a distance of four bows stands the Linga that removes sin and fear. The devoted man who worships that Linga with devotion, especially on the dark-fortnight eighth day (Krishnashtami), becomes freed from all sins.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.69.6)

गोदानं चात्र शंसंति सुवर्णं द्विजपुंगवे। अन्नदानं विशेषेण सर्वपापप्रशांतये

godānaṁ cātra śaṁsaṁti suvarṇaṁ dvijapuṁgave| annadānaṁ viśeṣeṇa sarvapāpapraśāṁtaye

Here they praise the gift of a cow and of gold to a foremost Brahmin; the gift of food especially is declared to pacify all sins.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.69.7)

गोघ्नो वा ब्रह्महा वाऽपि तथा दुष्कृतकर्मकृत्। सर्व पापैः प्रमुच्येत तस्य लिंगस्य दर्शनात्

goghno vā brahmahā vā'pi tathā duṣkṛtakarmakṛt| sarva pāpaiḥ pramucyeta tasya liṅgasya darśanāt

Whether one be a killer of a cow, a killer of a Brahmin, or a doer of any evil deed, he is released from all sins merely by the sight (darshan) of that Linga.